Top 10 haunted amusement parks

If you are a Halloween zealot who likes to take your fright fest a bit farther, here's Cheapflights.ca's list of the Top 10 scary amusement parks around the world.

1. Howl-O-Scream, Busch Gardens, Williamsburg, Virginia

Again with the clowns! Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens lures visitors into "the creepiest show on earth," Grin and Scare It - a version of a circus gone extremely wrong. Other scare zones include Widow Makers, Stitchin' Time, Scavengers and Unleashed, where werewolves apparently roam. Howl-O-Scream opened Sept. 23 and goes to Oct. 30.

2. Halloween Horror Nights, Universal Studios, Singapore

The scream-inducing spectacle that is Halloween Horror Nights - which have been operating seasonally at Universal Studios in both Orlando and Hollywood for years - has opened this year in Singapore. The debut features six scare zones this weekend and next.

3. Scarefest, Alton Towers Resort, Staffordshire, England

he most visited theme park in the United Kingdom turns eerie for its annual Scarefest, a combination of devilish attractions and family activities that together make for a blood-curdling holiday retreat. From Oct. 15 to 31.

4. Screams Halloween Theme Park Waxahachie, Texas

Those utterly traumatizing clowns are back, this time just outside of Dallas-Fort Worth. Five major attractions draw Texans to Screams Halloween Theme Park on Friday and Saturday nights all month. Topping the list is the Castle of Darkness, a residential house of worry for nervous tour-goers.

5. Terenzi Horror Nights, Europa Park, Rust, Germany

Winner of the much coveted Screamie Award for Best International Attraction in 2010, Horror Nights at Germany's popular Europa Park offers devilish treats and gory characters for visitors 16 and older. The cornfield labyrinth and five haunted houses are maddening mazes. It opened Sept. 23 and goes to Nov. 6.

6. Halloween Haunt, Canada's Wonderland, Toronto

Halloween Haunt sets up shop for one month annually to fool and ghoul visitors. New this year is the Terror of London, where folks are transported back to Jack the Ripper's murderous reign. Other showstoppers are Clowns at Midnight, The Asylum and Mother Noose - all guaranteed to induce unnerving symptoms. Until Oct. 31.

7. Halloween, PortAventura, Salou, Spain

A whopping 12,000 pumpkins are on display this year at PortAventura's Halloweenthemed spectacle - a seriously heavy commitment indeed. The world-renowned park pulls out all the haunted stops with eight live shows including La Muerte Viva (Living Death) and Templo del Fuego (Temple of Fire). Until Nov. 20.

8. Halloween Haunt, Knott's Berry Farm, Buena Park, California

Though it may not have the high-tech awesomeness that nearby Universal Studios Hollywood does, Knott's Scary Farm carries its own via nostalgia thanks to 13 heartracing, themed mazes and seven live shows. Until Oct. 31.

9. Halloween, Disneyland Paris

Walt Disney's imaginative vision is executed unbelievably well at Disney Paris, Europe's No. 1 tourist attraction. And during its month-long Halloween festival, the park doesn't let up. Take the kids to Mickey's Halloween Treat in the Street. After the sun sets, the entire park transforms into your worst nightmare, roaming monsters and all.

10. Hersheypark in the Dark, Hershey, Pennsylvania

The sweetest place on earth gets downright spooky every October, when Hersheypark drapes itself in fall colours and scary trick-or-treat-themed witchery. A Trick-or-Treat Adventure is offered for children 12 and younger. From Oct. 14 to 30.

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